Location-based networking

It's been a while since I wrote a blog post for work that wasn't a ghost post. Boo, I'm back! Today I shared my thoughts on location-based networking over on Power of 9's blog. You can read it here.

Oh to be young...

This is brilliant consumer insight on a generation that hates being pinned down. Ironic, But still brilliant. Watch it...

We All Want to Be Young from box1824 on Vimeo.

Show and Tell

Remember the show-and-tell table in primary school? If you found something cool, you brought it to school, presented it to the class and placed your treasure on the classroom alter... the show-and-tell table.

You were the coolest kid if you brought something unique and new, like an ostrich egg or a porcupine quill.

Not much has changed... we just do it online now.

If you're promoting products, services or an event online, look for creative ways to show people what is is you do and why it's valuable.

This artist, known as flossy-p, shares her process of painting a mural in a stop motion film. It's beautiful to watch, lovely to share and it shows viewers the workmanship and effort that goes into her work.

Stop motion mural painting from flossy-p on Vimeo.

Here are a few ways you can share interesting behind-the-scenes updates about your business/project or event: 

• Take care of the basics - set up a blog, Facebook fan page, and if your target market uses it, a Twitter account.  
• Share behind the scenes photos like a peak into your studio or work room for example. 
• Write a tutorial. You don't have to give your trade secrets away but you could share something interesting and useful that will help readers see you as a leader in your field.
• Illustrate your tutorial with photos or drawings because let's face it, we don't read online, we scan. 
• Better yet, make a video or complement a written tutorial with a podcast. 
• Tweet it, post it on Facebook and email links to it in your email newsletter. Get it out there if you want to get people talking and coming back for more!

Now it's your turn. What has worked for you and your business?  

Image via Flickr 

Keeping up with the Joneses

Talk about product placement! I watched the trailer for 'The Joneses' and the first thoughts that popped into my mind is that this is fantastically close to the truth, highly probable and extremely clever!

I'm sold; I want to see it! Check out the trailer...

When Blogging Bites

Have you hit a blogging brick wall?

There’re a string of rationalisations for time spent blogging but recently I found myself backspacing on my personal blog.

I stopped to take stock and realised the main problem is that I had been travelling without a map. I blogged about everything from social media to planning my wedding.

The result was a confusing blog that unsurprisingly, going nowhere. It’s a formula for a blog that sucks.

I needed to start blogging smart...

Getting into social media

A friend of mine asked me for advice about how she build a career in social media. I gave her a few tips but I would love to hear from you.

How have you built a career with social media?

Please comment below if you've turned managing a Facebook fan page, writing blogs and tweeting into part of your portfolio or your full-time job.

Image credit 

It's your party!

Love them or loathe them, events are crucial to most businesses. Conferences, networking events and exhibitions are ways to meet and greet current customers, find new ones and raise that brand profile (gagging on jargon).

It’s all about standing out at the party and thanks to social media; a cool idea could go viral (gag). Just think of flash mobs! No budget for a troupe of dancers? You could try a one man/women show... hmm.

Never mind, here are a few ways to promote your event via social media without spending a fortune…

The Last Advertising Agency on Earth

This video is a stab at the traditional advertising industry but really it could apply to any industry who fails to recognise that now people have a voice, more ways to air it and far more options in terms of where they do business. 

In other words, making a fan page isn't enough; brands need to listen to their customers. In my experience it's a new concept for some South African brands who want the social media ego stroke of big fan page numbers, without offering the customer service element.*

* Yes, I recently complained on a big brand's fan page about their declining product quality. Massive social media campaign, Facebook ads, the works but do they even try to get back to disappointed customers? 


Not a peep for me or the four other people who agreed and commented below my feedback to share their brand fail experiences. The brand ignored us all. Nice. I'm shopping elsewhere. 

Facebook - taking you places

Everyone's talking about location-based applications. Apparently they're so hot right now. Facebook has got in on the action. Here's a video that explains how Facebook Places works...

So what do you think? Love it? Think it appeals to stalkers more than the average Joe or Jane?  

Are you ready to rock?

Bless Brian for saying what so many have thought: 'I don't want to spend my time making 'stuff' for your online campaign' …unless of course it rocks!

Image via Flickr

Successful online/social media campaigns, like the Old Spice campaign, make me wonder... What makes an online campaign rock? 

Here are 3 rock worthy factors I've noticed so far:

A word from Brian

Planning a advertising campaign with a strong element of crowd sourcing? Read this first:

via CherryFlava 

Google social search

Have you ever Googled yourself, your friends or a date? Oh come on, of course you have! And Google knows it.

Now they've found a way to pull our friends' online content into our Google searches and as anyone in marketing knows, personal reviews and referrals carry more weight than pitch perfect copy on a corporate site.

Watch this:

How Old Spice rocked it

I laughed myself silly. Some people didn't. But no matter what you thought of Isaiah Mustafa's witty shower lines, Old Spice's social media campaign rocked! 

Look down, now up, now back at me and watch this video I found on the Old Spice social media success. 

Fan page flip out

Facebook fan page admins are flipping out! I'm talking about some serious keyboard thumping and shouting at their computer screens (as if Mark Zuckerberg will hear). Well maybe that was just me. Facebook fan pages are changing by 23 August, first our insights page and now, like salt in a wound, we're losing our boxes!

But what does that really mean? I found this video which explains this better than I could. It's also a tutorial on how to safeguard your fan page content. Shoo. Breathe out. Now watch...

How to start a blog

Some of my friends have asked me how to start a blog so here's a easy guide to setting up a blog on Blogger.com (that's what this blog is built on). It's user-friendly low-tech platform - perfect for a starter blogger.

Step 1: Begin by opening www.blogger.com/ and click on ‘Create an Account.'  If you have a gmail account, skip this step and login with your gmail account login.

Step 2: Fill in all your details

On the up

Social media is on the up and up. You know it, I know it but maybe your boss or client doesn't. You need to show them something 'wow' if you're going to convince them that they need is a social media strategy (and you're just the woman or man for the job).

Show them this online counter which tracks the growth of social media in real-time. Amazing!

Flip this is cool!

We share a lot of stuff online and now there’s Flipboard, a digital magazine that pulls what your friends share online into a magazine you can view from your iPad in real time.

Watch this video which explains how FlipBoard works in simple terms:

Oh, I should have warned you that watching this will lead to some serious iPad lust!

It's time!

It's about time I started a serious blog where I can share what I learn about using social media to build brands. Don't worry, I'm not very serious. Watch this space...